Battle at the Thermopylae

[djogloc02]

Scythia is in Europe right? I think I am confusing Parthia with Scythia.

 

[Almalexia]

That won't work if the enemy refuses to fight a pitched battle. Like what the Scythians did.

Which wouldn't work if they split the ****huge Persian army into separate divisions, and maneuvered around until the nomadic host was forced to fight. Which is how the Han Chinese managed the war with the Xiongnu.

 

[Hanz]

You obviously don't know anything about the Scythians!

 

[NikeBG]

Scythia is in Europe right? I think I am confusing Parthia with Scythia.

It's both in Europe and in Asia.

Which wouldn't work if they split the ****huge Persian army into separate divisions, and maneuvered around until the nomadic host was forced to fight. Which is how the Han Chinese managed the war with the Xiongnu.

You'd need good logistics for that. And Scythia isn't exactly near the Royal road.

 

[Almalexia]

You'd need good logistics for that. And Scythia isn't exactly near the Royal road.

Fortunately for the Persians, the Black Sea provided maritime access to the very heart of the Scythian domains, with ports built by the Greeks already there to aid with such supply routes, a boon the Han Chinese did not have, and yet still acquired victory. Plus the Persian Royal Road stretched all the way to the terminus in Anatolia, allowing for significant amounts of supplies to travel across the best roads antiquity could offer, onto one of the largest navies ever built, all aiding the transport of supplies and reinforcements to the armies in Scythia.

 

[NikeBG]

I'd hardly call the Pontic coast "the very heart of the Scythian domains" (mind you, Scythia isn't just modern Ukraine, and even then, the coast is only a thin line along it), nor would I say the Greek colonies there were very co-operative. But most of all, I'd point out that the Black Sea is a pretty treacherous sea, especially during some times of the year.
Though, you may be right - if the Persians had really, really set their mind to it, they might have been more successful in their Scythian campaigns. So could have Alexander. But then they'd have to divert their attention from other, more useful areas.

 

[Almalexia]

Well really this is all conjecture on what could have beens, so basically this is just a matter of opinion and we might as well put the argument to rest, no?

 

[NikeBG]

Of course. It's pretty much off-topic anyway.

 

[Roach XI the Magnificent]

and with the body of the army being spearmen equipped with large shields, supported by archers...

It's the other way around, though. It's archers supported by spearmen with large shields as well as peltast-like skirmishers. Not that infantry was ever the main striking force, the cavalry was utterly superior to the infantry and naturally the core of the army.

 

[Antonis]

Roach, is that Lara I see in our avatar?